The Pursuit

"Where did you hear that, benefactor?" Master Changxin was clearly shaken, but still refused to admit it.

This guy really wouldn't believe it until he saw the Yellow River!

"Master Changxin, wasn't Master Yongyan's death rather suspicious too?" Chen Wu pressed on. "I've already spoken with Master Yongyan's youngest son. He told me everything."

"Told you what?"

"Do I really have to spell it out? That day, when Master Yongyan went to his house, you secretly followed him there, Master Changxin, and gave him a package. Later, when they checked it, they found it was full of aphrodisiacs and other potent drugs."

"Master Yongyan was already old, and you gave him drugs like that. You really wanted him dead as soon as possible!" Chen Wu spoke faster and faster.

"Stop, stop!" Master Changxin's face fell.

"Hahaha—" Chen Wu couldn't help laughing. "There's just one thing I don't understand. Why did Master Yongyan ask you to bring him the drugs instead of asking one of his own disciples?"

"Hmph—" Resentment showed on Changxin's face. "That lecherous old monk always put on the airs of an enlightened master in front of his disciples. He fooled the pilgrims and worshippers, too."

"He only picked on me because my master died early and I had no roots or backing. He could do whatever he wanted with me, so he made me take care of his dirty business."

Even now, he was still pretending to be innocent. Chen Wu couldn't help looking down on him. "The way you put it, Master, you'd think you hadn't gained anything from it. It was precisely because you did the abbot's dirty work that he kept promoting you, made you head of the Discipline Hall, and helped you build up your reputation."

"When you were promoted to head of the Discipline Hall, I don't recall hearing that you were unwilling to accept the position!"

With his face covered, Chen Wu spoke in a mocking, sarcastic tone. Changxin's expression darkened. "Did you come here in the middle of the night just to tell this poor monk all that?"

"There aren't many clean places in Lingshan Temple. I'm not kind enough to come sweep them all clean for you." Chen Wu shook his head. "There's just one thing I want to know: did you know about yesterday's assassination?"

"Amitabha!" Master Changxin's expression changed, and he seemed almost solemn and majestic. "Benefactor, is that why you came?"

"Exactly!"

"Then I advise you not to investigate any further!" Changxin said. "There's no point discussing this. Don't bring trouble down on yourself."

"I've already gotten myself into a world of trouble. A few more problems won't make a difference!" Chen Wu said.

Hearing this, Changxin asked in surprise, "Who are you?"

"I am Chen Wu of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower—"

"Jade-Faced Killing God!"

Wu Ze, chief constable of Yan'an Prefecture, had a splitting headache. Just thinking about such a formidable figure barging into his territory and stirring up trouble made him feel that his luck had run out.

Wu Ze was already old and had long since given up on getting ahead. He only wanted to coast through the next few years, then go home and enjoy his retirement in peace. But fate had other plans: whatever he feared most was exactly what came to pass!

"Chief Constable, I think this is a great opportunity!" A young constable was brimming with excitement. "If we catch this Jade-Faced Killing God, we'll earn an enormous merit!"

Looking at the young man, with ambition written all over his face, Wu Ze shook his head. He seemed to see himself—only decades younger.

"What do you have in mind?"

"Chen Wu committed a crime in Jincheng Prefecture, then came to Yan'an Prefecture and killed someone. That means he must have come from the west." The young man sounded confident. "And appointing an abbot is a major Buddhist event. It isn't as simple as picking someone. There are many complicated rituals involved. Chen Wu slipped in without anyone noticing and didn't give himself away, so he must be familiar with Buddhist affairs."

"We can start by investigating those two things!"

"Good thinking!" Wu Ze nodded. "But we have to move quickly!"

"I've already searched around and narrowed it down to a few suspects. Today, I'll need you to assign me some men. Chen Wu is highly skilled in martial arts. We won't catch him with just anyone."

"Good—" Wu Ze took out his token. "Use my token to call in the men."

"You can command any experts on the Yan'an Prefecture payroll below the sixth rank. If you need anyone sixth rank or higher, tell me who, and I'll invite them myself!"

"Thank you, Chief Constable!"

The young constable took the token and was about to go arrange the manpower.

"Li Zheng!"

Wu Ze suddenly called after him. Li Zheng stopped and bowed.

"Chen Wu has killed so many officials. There may be more to this than meets the eye," Wu Ze said. "Do you know? Sometimes, merit can burn your hands."

"Thank you for your concern, Chief Constable." Li Zheng smiled. "But although my surname is Li, I'm no relative of the emperor. If I want to rise in the world, I can't pass up any merit. Whether it burns my hands or not, I can't afford to worry about that."

Just as expected of a young man. Wu Ze shook his head. "Go on."

Chen Wu left the abbot's quarters and hurried straight to a residence in the southeast of the prefectural city.

According to Abbot Changxin, ten days ago the assassin had found him, shown him a token, and demanded that he assist with the operation.

Changxin hadn't dared ask about the man's identity. He only said that the token belonged to Wude Palace, so the man was likely closely connected to it.

Changxin hadn't dared refuse, and had tacitly agreed to let the man proceed. He hadn't expected that the man intended to assassinate the Grand Patriarch.

After the Grand Patriarch's death, Changxin feared he might be held responsible. He was also afraid of getting caught up in something far more serious, so he had kept the matter secret.

Chen Wu already knew that Wude Palace was Great Shun's military academy for the army, while Sea-Pacifying Palace was its naval academy. One was on land, the other at sea, and each had its own faction.

Wude Palace mainly supported the School of Heavenly Principle, while Sea-Pacifying Palace was the stronghold of the Investigation of Things School.

The fact that Wude Palace had sent someone to assassinate the Grand Patriarch was explosive.

This was clearly a political assassination. When he got back, he would have to ask Old Liu what the Grand Patriarch's political views had been. An act as violent as assassination was bound to threaten someone's most fundamental interests.

Here!

This was the residence Changxin had mentioned. It was where he had first met the assassin.

The only concern was that the assassin had fled immediately after the assassination. Chen Wu could only wait and see. After all, the world was vast, and he had no way of guessing where the assassin might have gone.

"He didn't escape—" Seeing the brightly lit inner courtyard, Li Zheng felt a surge of excitement. Heaven had arranged this great achievement for him!

"Move!"

Li Zheng waved his hand. More than a dozen experts of the fifth rank or higher, armed with muskets and wearing breastplates, each carrying their own weapons, slipped in from all directions.

Bang—

Chen Wu heard a gunshot in the distance!

What was going on?

Someone was here!

As he was still wondering, a figure leaped out of the courtyard. Though it was the middle of the night, Chen Wu could still see the man's face. It was the assassin!

He had put on a ridged cap to hide his conspicuously bald head, but his face was pale. He was clearly injured.

A group of people rushed after him from behind, leaping in pursuit.

Bang—bang—bang—

Several more gunshots rang out!

The assassin staggered, then kept running. One of the shots seemed to have hit him, and even his remarkable lightness skill had slowed.

"Quick!"

A young constable shouted from behind and surged forward, closing the distance between himself and the assassin.

By sheer coincidence, the assassin had nowhere left to run and charged straight toward the eaves where Chen Wu was hiding!